PRESENTER: Presenter
Jennifer Gates, Grants Coordinator
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SUBJECT: Title
Approval of a resolution; ratification for the submission of an application to the Office of the Governor, Public Safety Office, Criminal Justice Division’s Bullet-Resistant Shield Grant Program for Fiscal Year 2025 to request funding for the purchase of ballistic shields for law enforcement officers; and authorization for the City Manager to act on behalf of the City in all matters related to the grant if awarded.
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DEPARTMENT: Police
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COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
New Braunfels’ City Council strategic priorities include using a variety of funding sources for operational and capital needs. As such, Staff recently submitted an application to the Office of the Governor, Public Safety Office, Criminal Justice Division’s Bullet-Resistant Shield Grant Program for Fiscal Year 2025 to request funding on behalf of the New Braunfels Police Department (NBPD) for the purchase of ballistic shields.
If awarded, the grant will provide funding to purchase rifle rated special threat ballistic shields that are quickly and easily deployed by trained NBPD officers. The new shields will enhance NBPD’s Ballistic Shield Program (BSP) which currently includes members of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Unit, designated Patrol Officers, and School Resource Officers. Expanding the BSP will provide rifle rated ballistic shields and associated training to additional, designated officers on every patrol shift and on specialty units so that they are available for high-risk encounters where serious bodily injury or death by firearms has potential to occur. The shields would be used for any call for service involving firearms such as robberies, high risk traffic stops, and officer and/or citizen rescues.
City staff recently submitted a grant application for a total amount of $81,025. The granting agency will provide funds for 100% of the total amount therefore, there is no City-match requirement.
If approved, the grant will be awarded by August 2024.
Staff is also requesting City Council approval of a resolution, as required by the granting agency, that will authorize our City Manager to act as the authorized official on behalf of the City in all matters related to this grant. The designated authorized official is given the power to apply for, accept, reject, alter, or terminate the grant on behalf of the applicant agency.
ISSUE:
Submission of the aforementioned grant application supports the City’s Strategic Priorities as follows:
Use a variety of funding sources for operational and capital needs.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The granting agency will provide reimbursement of all awarded costs; there is no City-match requirement.
Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of a resolution; ratification for the submission of an application to the Office of the Governor, Public Safety Office, Criminal Justice Division’s Bullet-Resistant Shield Grant Program for Fiscal Year 2025 to request funding for the purchase of ballistic shields for law enforcement officers; and authorization for the City Manager to act on behalf of the City in all matters related to the grant if awarded.